Silver Lining - The Host fanfiction

Chapter 110 The Devoted

"And now I have become Death, destroyer of worlds."

-Oppenheimer

Emma

Two days. That's how long we've been here. That's how long Burns has been trying to wake up Rain and Storm, or who they used to be. On the nightstand next to the bed are two occupied cryotanks, waiting to be shipped off planet.

Two days. And in all that time, Burns hasn't slept or eaten anything.

I'm watching from the doorway, not sure what to do. He looks pale and tired, but he's not giving up. He's softly talking to them, calling them by different names, trying to get them to wake up.
Is that what he had to do to bring me back?

On the other side of the bed, Finn is silently watching Burns' effort. He has hardly moved from his spot. At first he was still wary of Burns, but now he only seems curious.

I sigh. We can't keep this up much longer and Burns needs to rest.

Blake appears next to me. He looks at the bed warily and then at me. "We need to leave soon," he says softly, "or we'll draw attention."

I nod. "I know." Rain and Storm run the Healing Center. If they don't show up for work soon, someone will come looking for them.

In the room, Burns is lowering his head onto his arms and lets out a sigh. "Emma," he whispers.

I swallow and walk up to him. Carefully I kneel down at his side and sigh sadly.

"Why are they not waking up?" he asks hoarsely. I don't answer and I don't think he expects me to.

"I tried everything," Burns says. He sighs and rubs his eyes. "We should never have come to this planet. We have no business her." He swallows. "How did you wake up?"

I bite my lip and take his hand. "Perhaps... they were already gone from the start."

"I have to try," Burns rasps.

"I can cover for you," I tell him quietly, "go eat something. Take a shower. After that you can come back again."

Burns seems to contemplate for a moment, but then he shakes his head. "No. I can't leave them alone."

Blake now enters the room as well. He places a hand on Burns' shoulder. "It's too late, Burns," he says kindly, "they're already gone. It's not your fault. You tried. But we have to leave." He sighs. "And burry the bodies."

Burns rubs his eyes. He seems to come to himself. "We can't burry them," he says. He looks at the two empty shells, "they might be found." He swallows difficultly. "We'll have to burn them. The house too."

We look at each other. I don't think any of us wants to admit it, but what Burns said makes sense. What if they use the bodies of these people and put another Soul inside to find out what has happened? They'll find us.

Blake is the one that takes the decision. "We'll gather everything in the house that we can still use and take it with us." He glances at the bed. "We'll have to make it look like an accident."

I feel like I'm going to be sick. I know these people aren't really alive anymore. Their organs are deteriorating. And after two days of trying everything, they won't be coming back.

That doesn't mean it's not making me uncomfortable. Those were people.

"Emma," Blake says to me, "why don't you take Burns to the guestroom? He needs rest and you've hardly slept as well. I'll take care of things here. I'll come get you."